Coronavirus COVID-19 Guidance and Information for Healthcare Professionals

Recommendations for Universal Masks for Healthcare Professionals

Given the rising number of cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi, and the increased risk of exposure to healthcare professionals and patients, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) recommends that healthcare workers wear masks throughout the workday. N95 or KN95 masks should not be used routinely but preserved for those caring directly for patients with COVID-19 or those suspected of having COVID-19. This recommendation applies to healthcare professionals working in patient care areas, even when they are not in a patient-facing role. Healthcare professionals included in this recommendation are all paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings with the potential for either direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials, contaminated medical supplies or contaminated environmental surfaces.

Please realize masks should be used in addition to (not instead of) continuing proper distancing and proper hand hygiene.

Proper hand hygiene should be performed after donning and doffing the mask. Masks should be replaced when they become soiled, moist or damaged. Masks can be replaced at various time points as directed by your healthcare institution, following hygienic principles. If surgical masks are not readily available due to restrictions in supply, masks of similar quality produced by local industry or homemade cloth masks can be used as directed by your institution. Cloth masks should be laundered at home daily in hot water and dried with high heat. See CDC guidelines for cloth masks ».

When caring for patients with possible COVID-19 symptoms, MSDH still recommends a minimum complement of a surgical mask, eye protection and gloves. When caring for patients with known COVID-19 we strongly recommend strict compliance with CDC infection control guidance »